8. [al-Anfal, Medina 88, after Badr 2H]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قُل لِلَّذِينَ
كَفَرُواْ إِن
يَنتَهُواْ
يُغَفَرْ لَهُم
مَّا قَدْ
سَلَفَ...
8: 38. Say to the unbelievers, if (now) they desist (from unbelief), their past would be forgiven them;
...وَإِنْ يَعُودُواْ فَقَدْ مَضَتْ سُنَّةُ الأَوَّلِينِ ﴿٣٨﴾
but if they persist, the punishment of those before them is already (a matter of warning for them).
وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ
حَتَّى لاَ
تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ
وَيَكُونَ
الدِّينُ كُلُّهُ
لِلّه...
8: 39. And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere;
...فَإِنِ انتَهَوْاْ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ﴿٣٩﴾
but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do.
C1208. If they cease from fighting and from the persecution of truth, Allah judges then by their actions and their motives, and would not wish that they should be harassed with further hostility.
But if they refuse all terms, the righteous have nothing to fear: Allah will help and protect them.
وَإِن جَنَحُواْ
لِلسَّلْمِ
فَاجْنَحْ لَهَا
وَتَوَكَّلْ
عَلَى اللّهِ...
8: 61. But if the enemy incline towards peace, do thou (also) incline towards peace,
and trust in Allah:
...إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ ﴿٦١﴾
for He is the one that heareth and knoweth (all things).
C1228. While we must always be ready for the good fight lest it be forced on us, even in the midst of the fight we must always be ready for peace if there is any inclination towards peace on the other side.
There is no merit merely in a fight by itself. It should be a joyful duty not for itself, but to establish the reign of peace and righteousness and Allah's Law.
وَإِن
يُرِيدُواْ
أَن يَخْدَعُوكَ
فَإِنَّ حَسْبَكَ
اللّهُ...
8: 62. Should they intend to deceive thee, verily Allah sufficeth thee:
...هُوَ الَّذِيَ أَيَّدَكَ بِنَصْرِهِ وَبِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٦٢﴾
He it is that hath strengthened thee with his aid and with (the company of) the believers:
C1229. In working for peace there may be a certain risk of treachery on the other side. We must take that risk: because the men of Faith have Allah's aid to count upon and the strength of the united body of the righteous. (R).
8: 38
Pickthall Tell those who disbelieve that if they cease (from persecution of believers) that which is past will be forgiven them; but if they return (thereto) then the example of the men of old hath already gone (before them, for a warning).
Transliteration Qul lillazina kafaru_ iy yantahu_ yugfar lahum ma_ qad salaf(a), wa iy ya'u_du_ fa qad madat sunnatul awwalin(a).
8: 39
Asad And fight against them until there is no more oppression and all worship is devoted to God alone [note 39]. And if they desist – behold, God sees all that they do [note 40];
Pickthall And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah. But if they cease, then lo! Allah is Seer of what they do.
Transliteration Wa qa_tilu_hum hatta_ la_ taku_na fitnatuw wa yaku_nad dinu kulluhu_ lilla_h(i), fa inintahau fa innalla_ha bima_ ya'malu_na basir(un).
[[ Asad’s note 39 – I.e., until man is free to worship God. Cf. the identical phrase in 2:193, and the corresponding note. Both these passages stressed self-defense – in the widest sense of this word – as the only justification of war.]]
[[ Ali’s notes - 1207 Cf. ii. 193 and n. (8.39)
1208 If they cease from fighting and from the persecution of truth, Allah judges then by their actions and their motives, and would not wish that they should be harassed with further hostility. But if they refuse all terms, the righteous have nothing to fear: Allah will help and protect them. (8.39) ]]
8: 61
Pickthall And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it, and trust in Allah. Lo! He is the Hearer, the Knower.
Transliteration Wa in janahu_ lis salmi fajnah laha_ wa tawakkal 'alalla_h(i), innahu_ huwas sami'ul 'alim(u).
8: 62
Asad And should they seek but to deceive you [by their show of peace] – behold, God is enough for you [note 67].
Pickthall And if they would deceive thee, then lo! Allah is sufficient for thee. He it is Who supporteth thee with His help and with the believers,
Transliteration Wa iy yuridu_ ay yakhda'u_ka fa inna hasbakalla_h(u), huwal lazi ayyada bi nasrihi wa bil mu'minin(a).
[[ Asad’s note 67 – The implication is that “even if they offer peace only with a view to deceiving you, this [offer of] peace must be accepted since all judgment [of their intentions] must be based on outward evidence alone” (Razi): in other words, mere suspicion cannot be made an excuse for rejecting an offer of peace. ]]
[[ Ali’s note - 1229 In working for peace there may be a certain risk of treachery on the other side. We must take that risk: because the men of Faith have Allah's aid to count upon and the strength of the united body of the righteous. (8.62) ]]
[[ Ruby’s note – Giving the benefit of doubt to enemies, adversaries and rivals is as per the spirit of Islam. If there is a risk in going ahead with this good work, accepting this risk in itself is a step towards earning success and victory before God if one places trust in God. In the final hour the victory would be coming for the ones who has taken the risk in the cause of peace in serving God.]]